Firefighter accused of making fake 911 calls to steal from responding firehouses on Staten Island

The firefighter, identified as Joseph Keene, is accused of pulling the ruse at firehouses in Queens and on Staten Island, the city Department of Investigations announced Friday.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A New York City firefighter is accused of the ultimate betrayal: Making bogus 911 calls so he can steal cash from his Bravest brothers while they were out on the wild goose chase.

The firefighter, identified as Joseph Keene, is accused of pulling the ruse at firehouses in Queens and on Staten Island, the city Department of Investigations announced Friday.

Keene, 34, a Hicksville, L.I. resident, and a firefighter assigned to Engine 75 in the Bronx, was arraigned Friday in Queens Criminal Court.

Keene’s scams included making a false 911 call about a smell of gas in the vicinity of Forest and Veltman avenues in Port Richmond, authorities said. The false call forced nearby Ladder 83 to respond.

During that time, Keene entered the firehouse and stole about $200, investigators said.

A second 911 call about a sparking transformer in the vicinity of Forest Avenue and Victory Boulevard forced Ladder 80 to respond, according to authorities. While firefighters were out, Keene allegedly entered the premises and stole between $400 and $500.

When questioned, Keene admitted to the crimes, the Department of Investigations said.

He is charged with two counts of burglary in the second degree; two counts of burglary in the third degree; and one count of fourth-degree grand larceny, second-degree falsely reporting an incident, petty larceny and second-degree falsifying business records.